Artists And Musicians Promote Suicide Awareness With Inaugural “See The Good” Concert

When Michele McTierney thinks back to her childhood at 10 years old, instead of crafting beaded bracelets and hosting sleepovers, she often thinks of a severe depression that led her to contemplate suicide.

“You think that’s really young for a kid, but being overwhelmed by the home situation and struggling from a chemical imbalance myself, it really hit me hard,” she said. “In my teen years, I remember not being able to get help because my mother felt there was a stigma attached to it, and it was just very difficult in that era to be able to get help.”

McTierney suffered from clinical depression until adulthood. Through the University of Notre Dame health department, McTierney was introduced to a doctor who prescribed antidepressants, and after trying several medications – and with the encouragement of her counselors, doctors, friends and family – she finally shook the negative thoughts that clouded her judgment.

Now, to help others battling severe depression and anxiety, McTierney has organized the inaugural “See the Good” World Suicide Prevention Day Benefit Concert at the Ottobar in Baltimore from Sunday, September 11, at 4:00pm to Monday, September 12, at 1:00am.

Proceeds will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which provides education, awareness, support, research, treatment, health care reform and advocacy.

“The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a fantastic organization that has a mission statement,” McTierney said. “They follow through with attacking the problem and supporting the communities.”

McTierney decided to attack the problem herself, recruiting more than 30 bands to perform during the “See the Good” concert, and adding a silent auction with artwork by Maryland residents. A rock-band main stage on the Ottobar’s ground floor and an acoustic stage upstairs will feature several acts, all performing for free, including McTierney, Skribe, Megosh, Mundy, Red Valley Nursery, The Out of Water eXperience, Loose Ties and Ernie Fowler.

“We have rap artists. We have R&B artists. We have pop, rock and punk, and a rock-alternative, country-inspired [band] as well,” McTierney said. “It’s all over the place as far as what information you will hear, but it’s all great stuff.”

Troll Tribe, led by Pasadena frontman Matthew Collins, is one of those bands. Collins himself battles depression, and he cites that as one of the biggest reasons he plays guitar. “Music has always been and will always be about getting my frustrations out, and it's helped pull me out of bad spells,” Collins said. “It's the only form of healing I've known.”

With a set that includes covers and originals, Troll Tribe will perform reggae, ska, rock, folk and alternative tunes. “Our sets touch parts of many different genres while maintaining having a fun great night,” Collins said.

Numerous businesses also contributed items for raffles, a live auction and VIP swag bags, and several volunteers helped McTierney make the concert an enticing affair.

Jason Holtschneider served as art director, creating posters, logos, T-shirt designs, a website, social media graphics and brochures for the concert, while also soliciting items for the silent auction and donating his own artwork. One of his donated pieces is “Natalie,” a pen-and-ink drawing with ink washes of a woman’s face. Another donated piece, “Deerhunter,” showcases a drypoint etching of a deer skull.

Because of his experience battling his “own personal demons and depression,” he wants to use those items to benefit suicide prevention programs.

“The big reason I got involved was to raise awareness, to let people that are suffering with depression and suicidal tendencies [know] that it's OK they are not different, most people have dealt with this at some time in their life,” he said. “I want people that are suffering to feel they can talk about it and reach out for help before it's too late.”

Scott Ambrose was serving as a stage manager at Artscape 2016 when McTierney approached him about the idea. “She seems like a passionate and sincere person, and she invited me to check it out,” he recalled.

A freemason with Sincerity Lodge 181 in Odenton, Ambrose said volunteer work is “one of the tenets of freemasonry.” With that in mind, he was eager to help McTierney by selling tickets, spreading awareness, and searching for sponsors and vendors.

The excitement for the event was so overwhelming that McTierney decided to broadcast the concert online for fans in other countries and those who could not attend.

“A lot of my music friends have used things like Periscope and Twitch, Ustream, Skype even, and other programs to live-stream rehearsals, performances, radio shows and podcasts,” McTierney said. “And I thought, ‘Well, why can’t we do that?’”

If you would like to volunteer, sponsor or donate, contact Michele McTierney at give@seethegoodconcert.com. To learn more about the concert, visit www.seethegoodconcert.com or purchase tickets at www.seethegoodconcert.eventbrite.com.

“I know what people feel like when they’re in crisis, and I know what it feels like to see someone in crisis and feel powerless and not know what to do,” McTierney said. “Especially as a child, you really are at your wit’s end. It will impact your entire life, and if there is any way we can stop this from happening, prevent suicide and get to the root cause, that would be a miracle.”